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Feb

19
2008

Level with me doc

By Matt Carter, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Speculative bubbles are great for the economy, and efforts to stem foreclosures, while well-intentioned, will only prolong the agony of the housing downturn. That's the word from Slate columnist Daniel Gross, author of "Pop! Why Bubbles Are Great for the...  more...

Women and children first

By Matt Carter, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Yesterday's post on talk that two major bond insurers may each split themselves into separate companies -- one covering municipal bonds, the other riskier investments like collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) -- prompted one reader to ask why that would prolong...  more...

Mobile search called 'next big technology shift' in real estate

By Jessica Swesey, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

If you're curious about how mobile technology can be used to help market real estate and reach potential home buyers, a new white paper from WAVGroup out today dives into the subject. Not long ago, the notion of using mobile...  more...

To be or not to be compliant Premium Content

By Marc Davison, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

New search sites take the stage, raising the audible sounds in an opera of compliance and online home listings.

The audience recoils from this baffling aria that shatters the glass of logic.

The question of where a listing goes, how it appears, and who touches it reverberates through the hall without intermission.

That is the question

A seller hires an agent. The agent is given one charge: Sell the home. Sell it fast. Sell it clean.  more...

Realogy announces deal to feed listings data to Zillow

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Major real estate franchise company Realogy Corp.  more...

California industrial building changes hands

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Lee & Associates – LA North/Ventura Inc. negotiated the purchase of an industrial building in Glendale, Calif., for $1.07 million, the company announced today.

The property is located at 1767 Standard Ave. in Glendale, and includes 4,062 square feet of industrial space.

Chansak Plensgsangtip, who was represented by David Tang of EDM Properties, was the seller.  more...

Los Angeles ranks as least affordable major housing market

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Indianapolis continued its reign as the most affordable major U.S.  more...

More loan servicers agree to put foreclosures on hold

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Loan servicers and lenders who handle about nine out of 10 subprime loans have agreed to participate in an initiative to help delinquent borrowers by putting foreclosure proceedings on hold for up to 30 days to evaluate alternatives.

The Project Lifeline initiative, targeted at borrowers who are 90 days or more behind on their payments, was announced by six major lenders on Feb.  more...

Fannie, Freddie can't mix and match conforming, jumbo MBS Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Jumbo loan borrowers may not see much relief on interest rates when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Authority start buying and guaranteeing loans above the current $417,000 conforming loan limit, because the loans will be barred from the most important secondary market where mortgages are bought and sold.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announced that "jumbo light" loans of up to $729,750 that Fannie, Freddie and FHA were temporarily authorized to buy or back as part of the  more...

Brokerage company forms venture to service REO properties

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Howard Hanna Real Estate services, a brokerage company with 122 offices and 3,600 sales associates in four states, has partnered with a vendor management company to create a new entity to manage and sell bank-owned properties across the country, according to an announcement today.

Other real estate companies have also sought to build or strengthen specialties in foreclosure-related properties as that market niche has exploded with the market downturn.

The new company, National Real Estate Asset Management, is intended to provide a range  more...

$68 million industrial building sale closes in California

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Colliers International recently brokered the sale of a 608,220-square-foot industrial building in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

The transaction was valued at $68 million.

The distribution facility, located at 9400 Santa Fe Springs Road, is occupied by Liz Claiborne, and serves as the retailer's West Coast distribution hub.

Clyde Stauff, senior vice president of Colliers International's Orange County office, represented the buyer, Birtcher Development & Investments and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, in the transaction.

The original building was developed in  more...

U.S. Patent Office to occupy space in Arlington, Va.

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Transwestern's Mid-Atlantic region announced Monday that it negotiated a 10-year, 168,468-square-foot office lease agreement for space at 2800 S. Randolph Street in Arlington, Va.

Transwestern senior vice presidents, Matt Bundy and Joshua Masi, along with Monument's Doug Olson and Bethany Allen, represented the landlord, Transwestern Monument Randolph Square LLC, and Studley's Todd Valentine represented the tenant, United States Patent and Trademark Office, in the transaction.  more...

Judges hear arguments in craigslist lawsuit Premium Content

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

During a lively court hearing Friday that included fire alarm interruptions and discussions about a hired hit man, bank robbers and a Buddhist temple, lawyers presented arguments (listen here) about the application of fair housing law to online community site craigslist.org and the extent of federal protections available to the site through the U.S. Communications Decency Act.

A three-judge panel for the Seventh Circuit U.S.  more...

Changing out windows tricky with aluminum siding

By Paul Bianchina, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Q: We have aluminum siding and single-pane aluminum windows. We would like to replace the old windows with new vinyl ones, but were wondering if that's possible with the aluminum siding. Also, how do we find a quality window? --Hugh S.

A: The difficulty in replacing windows in homes with aluminum siding has to do with how the windows were originally installed. Aluminum windows are usually installed by attaching them through a flange to the wall framing, and then the flange is covered with the siding.  more...

Faulty shower will cost buyer $3,000 to fix

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Dear Barry,

I hired a home inspector before buying my house. He was supposed to find the defects. After moving in, I discovered that the shower in the basement has no drain connection. During the inspection, the inspector turned the shower on briefly, but he didn't find any problem with it. Now it appears that the shower is a manufactured stall that was set in place on the basement floor, connected to the water lines, but not to the sewer drain system. Instead, it is located near a clogged floor drain.  more...